Community

Somehow, one little project turned into a sell out for senior services.

The Pride Center’s Boomer/Senior Health Expo — the brainchild of Senior Services Coordinator Bruce Williams and his team — is one of the biggest events the Center puts on every year. If you want to sponsor it, though, you’ll have to get in while you can. Last year, sponsorships sold out by June, even though the event was in October.

“The [first] expo was instrumental in creating an awareness of the long-term care needs of our LGBT seniors,” Williams said. “Since then, the crowds have grown larger every year, and the number of our participating vendors has increased with each expo.”

What started out as a way to bridge the knowledge gap between seniors and LGBT-friendly services offerings around town has now blossomed into one of the most sought-after events for both seniors and sponsors alike. Space is limited to 60 vendors, with sponsorship rates ranging from $500 to $6,000, depending on levels of participation. Williams said there is never a shortage vendors.

“The response from our participating individuals, businesses and organizations has been an overwhelmingly positive one,” Williams said. “Providers have literally lined up to reserve space.”

Reserving sponsorship spots is on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you want to get your spot, you have to pay in full when you request it. Otherwise, a paying sponsor can snatch up your spot. Williams said groups are actually “clamoring” for space. Typically, it’s right after one event ends that organizations plan for the next year.

“In days following each expo, a number of current participants immediately commit their organization to the next year’s event,” Williams said. “It is always unfortunate when someone doesn’t receive a spot. Last year, the event sold out by the end of June, and we had a lot of disappointed would-be participants. Those folks and many of our regulars have reserved their space for this year’s event, and that’s why we already have a waiting list for cancellations.”

There are plenty of different types of sponsors that participate, including wellness programs, long term care services, financial services, and so many more. Williams said the largest recurring sponsors come from Broward Health Imperial Point, Marrinson’s Senior Services, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

If you come up short on becoming a sponsor, there’s still hope for you in the event resource directory.

“[The] booklet includes information about all expo participants and includes the ads of support and from those marketing their goods and services,” Williams said. “We have found that our attendees generally keep their copies of the Resource Directory and refer to them whenever they are in need of goods and services throughout the year.”